Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.
Psalm 19:14
Christian Meditation
Meditation is above all a quest …To the extent that we are humble and faithful, we discover in meditation the movements that stir the heart and we are able to discern them. It is a question of acting truthfully in order to come into the light: “Lord, what do you want me to do?”
Catechism of the Catholic Church
Christian meditation has been part of the Church’s life from the very beginning — a quiet, intentional turning of the heart toward God. From Moses encountering the Holy One in the burning bush, to Elijah hearing the divine whisper on Mount Horeb, the Old Testament is filled with moments of sacred stillness where God revealed Himself to those who listened.
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This same spirit of prayer continues in the life of Christ. Again and again, Jesus withdrew into silence — to the mountains, the garden, or the wilderness — to rest in communion with His Father. During His forty days in the desert, He met both temptation and grace in solitude, sustained only by divine strength.
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In this tradition, Christian meditation invites us to enter that same silence of the heart. It engages our mind and imagination, not to analyze, but to open us to Love’s transforming presence. We may meditate on Scripture, on the life of Christ, on a mystery of the Rosary, or on a truth that stirs the soul. Whatever the form, its source and goal are always God.
The Catechism calls this form of prayer “a quest” — a seeking that begins with reflection and leads to communion. Through meditation, we listen inwardly for the Word who speaks within us. We come to know who we are in God, what He desires for us, and how deeply we are loved. In this sacred space, the soul grows quiet, and the heart awakens to the indwelling Presence that has been there all along.
How to Pray: Christian Meditation
1. Find a comfortable place to pray.
While some might prefer to pray while sitting on the floor or kneeling besides their bed, these are not your only options for meditation. If you are easily distracted while sitting still, you might want to practice meditation while walking or while sipping coffee. God meets us where we are — it doesn’t have to be perfect. Just make sure you feel like you can be yourself with God in this place, whether you’re alone or in public.
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2. Prepare your mind and heart for prayer.
Think about your prayer before you start praying.
Sometimes it helps to think about prayer before you actually start praying. Ask yourself a couple of questions before choosing what you’d like to meditate with or on:
Is there something on my mind that I want to offer to God in prayer? This will probably look different for you every day, and that’s totally okay! Think about your relationships, work, and anything that’s causing you anxiety or you feel grateful for — God wants to hear it all! If your mind wanders in prayer, don’t be afraid to return to this offering to God.
Are there any distractions preventing me from resting with God? It could be a physical distraction like dirty dishes or something on your to-do list. However, sometimes prayer makes the tasks in front of us seem less daunting. Discern how you can best set yourself up to rest in God’s presence and listen to Him.
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Create calm in preparation.
Take some time to calm your heart, mind, and body before starting prayer. You might take a few deep breaths, silence your phone’s notifications, or dim the lights if you’re inside. Remember why you are settling into your Christian meditation practice — to grow closer with God in this prayer time.
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3. Select a prayer, verse, image, or word to meditate with.
In Christian meditation, we always meditate with something holy that will fill our hearts and bring us closer to God. You could choose a particular Scripture passage to meditate with and or try a guided Lectio Divina.
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If you’re just getting started with prayer, it might be helpful to choose a short prayer or even just one word to meditate with. There are a few short minute meditations for when you’re on the go, crunched for time, or it’s all you can do that day (The app Hallow has some). It’s amazing what repeating “Jesus, I trust in You,” or just one decade of the Rosary can do for your day.
4. Let God fill your heart.
Remember: it’s not as much about what we say in prayer but how well we prepare ourselves to listen to God’s voice in the silence. It might take a few, or many, tries before it becomes clear. However, even spending just one minute resting with God can fill our hearts with grace, with gratitude, and with goodness.
If your mind starts to wander, think of the verse or image you selected at the beginning of your meditation and turn back to it.
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5. End your meditation with gratitude.
Conclude your time in prayer by thanking God for this time with you. You could end with an Our Father, Hail Mary, or simply just say thank you to God. You can stay in this moment of peace as long as you want — don’t rush yourself to end your time with God. If something stuck out to you in prayer, be sure and jot it down.
Most importantly, remember this peaceful moment with God is always available to you — at any time of the day, and in any place.
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An excerpt from the Hallow application / hallow.com by Abby Fredrickson
Hallow is an app to support you in personal Catholic faith formation. It has a variety of meditations, music, and novenas to meditate with, as well as different praylists to focus your time in prayer on, such as Hope, Patience, and Gratitude.